Types of Braces

Types of Braces

As doctors, we are all different, and have preferences about which appliances we prefer to offer our patients. What works better in one doctor’s practice may not work the same in another. We have great results with the appliances listed and described below.

Traditional Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces are the most common type, and are smaller and more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the popular option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile.

Clear (Ceramic) Braces

Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, they are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns.

While they are visually less prominent, they require more attention to oral hygiene, because ceramic braces are larger and more brittle than their metal counterparts. For these reasons, ceramic braces tend to be used more on upper front teeth than on lower teeth.

Gold braces

Gold braces are similar to traditional metal braces in many ways. They are made of stainless steel, but are coated in gold. The gold coating is an aesthetic option which some patients prefer. The cost of gold braces is surprisingly comparable to clear braces.

Clear Aligners

Clear aligners are a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable acrylic trays that straighten your teeth like braces. Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and contain no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. Frequently, attachments are also placed on the teeth to enhance the ability of the aligner trays to control tooth movement.